This document provides 7 rules for running a teenage WordPress community. The rules are: 1) Have a clear goal and vision, 2) Be actively involved in the community, 3) Customize WordPress to fit the community's needs, 4) Expect challenges in managing content and potential floods of content, 5) Trust that teenagers can surprise you with their capabilities, 6) Allow your business goals to evolve over time, and 7) Accept that change will occur both for the members and yourself as the founder. The community discussed aims to improve literacy rates for music journalism among teenagers in the UK.

1. Rules for a teenage
WordPress
community
Michelle Dhillon, Founder & Editor

2. Who the heck am I?
@MichelleDhillon
MichelleDhillon.com
uk.linkedin.com/in/michelledhil
lon
Howl PR & Digital
HowlPR.co
@HowlPRco
Rockhaq.com
@Rockhaq
What is Rockhaq?
Then… (2011/12 pilot)
The UK music journalism community for
schools
Now… UK music journalism community

3. “This is the best thing I’ve ever done outside college. It’s
taking over my life more than Facebook and Twitter, it’s
that addictive.”
“This is SICK!”
“Rockhaq is a really smart
and exciting way to bring
together a community of
young people who are
passionate about music.
“It is possibly one of the best
things to ever be created in
terms of music blogging.”
Watch Sam from 1.55 to hear why he
loves the Rockhaq community

4. Changing lives?
Not WordPress…
WordPower

5. The Magnificent
Seven
7 rules for running a teenage WordPress Community

6. 1. Have a goal, a belief, an ultimate vision
Literacy Rates 16-24s…?
Germany
UK
Slovak Republic
Estonia
Czech Republic
Literacy Rates 16-24’s in 2013
5. Estonia
9. Czech Republic
10. Germany
12. Slovak Republic
22. UK

7. 2. Stick your hand up!
Papoy!

8. 3. Shape WordPress for your community
Private
Feedback
Achievements
app
BP Status Updates
BP Private
Messaging

9. 4. Expect challenges
Managing Content =
Manual
Review
Floods!

10. 5. Trust teenagers/your community
THEY MIGHT SURPRISE YOU!

11. 6. Evolve your business goals
I will CRUSH
you, like this
apple!

12. 7.Accept change
LIVES WILL CHANGE – THEIRS AND YOURS

13. From the RH kids,
THANKYOU to WP &
the UK WP
community 
@MichelleDhillon
@Rockhaq